Islamabad: An Afghan court on Sunday ordered the release of an imprisoned Pakistani TV journalist, who was undergoing four years jail term for allegedly travelling to the neighbouring country without documents.

Faizullah Khan of ARY News was arrested in April in the eastern Nangarhar province and sentenced in July after a brief trial.

"I can confirm that a high court in Jalalabad has ordered his (Faizullah) release," said Akhtar Munir, spokesperson of Pakistan embassy in Kabul.

Khan was initially charged for spying but his employer ARY News rejected the charges, saying he was there to perform official duties.

The court had also rejected spying allegation and sentenced the journalist for travelling without documents.

Faizullah?s lawyer had challenged his conviction in a high court in eastern Nangarhar province, which overturned the verdict of the lower court.

The local and international media right bodies had expressed concerns at his sentence.

Reporters Without Borders termed it an "utterly disproportionate sentence" and asked for it "to be quashed on appeal."

Pakistan government has also asked Afghan authorities to reconsider the punishment.